Bournemouth have announced the signing of central defender Matai Akinmboni from DC United.
While the club has not revealed the specific length of the contract, they confirmed that the American-born Nigerian has committed to a multi-year deal.
Akinmboni made headlines on September 10, 2022, when he became the youngest player of Nigerian descent to make his debut in Major League Soccer, starting for DC United at just 15 years and 328 days old in a match against Real Salt Lake that ended in a goalless draw.
His transfer to Bournemouth is seen as a major coup, as the talented teenager attracted interest from several European clubs.
Akinmboni has previously trained with elite teams, including Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich, La Liga’s Villarreal, and EFL’s Swansea City.
Having played for Loudoun United, the young defender signed a homegrown contract with DC United, where he made 17 appearances across all competitions.
Bournemouth’s first-team technical director Simon Francis expressed excitement about the signing, stating, “Matai is an exciting young player we have been monitoring for an extended period.”
At just 18 years old, Akinmboni is eligible to represent Nigeria’s national team through his parents, Taiye and Abiola Akinmboni, who are originally from Ondo State and Lagos State, respectively.
